Find your Ikigai before motivating your team

In case of emergency, put on your own mask before helping others!

In our daily lives, we often encounter lethargy and demotivation. However, these issues can manifest huge repercussions when they affect an entire team. Motivation is what drives people to achieve their deadlines on time amidst all the clutter. Projects that require coordination and teamwork are affected by the motivation levels of all the team members. Consequently, it becomes imperative for a manager to motivate themselves and their team members constantly.

Nonetheless, it is obviously not surprising to find yourself bewildered over employee motivation. Yet, the question of building motivation in your team remains a perplexing one. Moreover, employee motivation can be a complex issue at times because of its broad scope, including diversity and individual differences. Motivational techniques may not work universally, but managers and leaders can definitely try some of the proven effective ones. 

Before beginning to motivate your team, it is crucial to motivate yourself. A manager simply serves as a motivation for their team in multiple ways. Effectively, their motivation and enthusiasm toward work can also serve as an example of model behavior for employees. Further, a manager’s motivation is important because they have to lead the team. They are responsible for taking problems head-on and solving problems day after day.

Constant challenges from the external as well as the internal environment are part and parcel of managerial and leadership roles. Therefore, managers must find something that motivates them to get up and do their best daily. The Japanese concept of Ikigai can be beneficial here. Ikigai, in its simplest form, stands for your reason for being. It is the thing that moves you every day to continue achieving smart goals. The best part is that you can use this technique not only to find your own Ikigai but also to help your team and team members find theirs.

Employee motivation can still appear tricky because it involves multiple people who are not you. Their reasons, responsibilities, and responses can be poles apart from yours. As a result, it might be hard to find effective motivators within the organization. There are several techniques that a manager can use to motivate their employees. Managers usually focus on offering encouragement and support and creating positive experiences at work to keep their team engaged. You can find a few top employee motivation techniques you can use with your team.

Employee recognition is among the most effective and popular ways to motivate employees. It shows them that their efforts are valued. Additionally, getting recognized gives one a sense of security and comfort in the team. It works like an elixir for team performance. Generally, we see recognition as an acknowledgment of efforts made in the workplace. But employee recognition includes much more than that! All in all, you have to make employee recognition a part of your team’s culture. This article on the recognition of employees as a motivational tool will help you understand the various forms of employee recognition that you can use to motivate your team.

All in all, employee motivation is indispensable in your team’s journey to success. Although motivation is subjective often, a manager can attempt to enhance engagement and encourage their employees. It might require you to interact closely with your team to understand their personality and employ techniques accordingly.

Successful managers know that a people-centric approach is instrumental in not merely building a great team culture but also in increasing productivity and improving performance. You can become a high-performing manager by hacking into the motivation game using the resources listed above. Test and try to see what works best for your team. Creating a motivated team is a mix of inspiration, infusion, and inclusion – balanced just right!